Firelighter



Dec. 15, 1959 F. H. RAINES 2,917,615

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F. H. RAINES FIRELIGHTER Dec. 15, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 19. 1958 INVENTOR. IP53 ERm/vas Mfr/Na I #f/un/rzsv r477'0E/YEY United States Patent FIRELIGHTER Fred H. Raines, Newport Beach, Calif., assignor to All- American Manufacturing Co., a partnership Application May 19, 1958, Serial No. 738,907

2 Claims. (Cl. 219-32) This invention relates to an electrical device and particularly relates to a device which is adapted for lighting fires and particularly charcoal fires used for barbecuing.

When barbecuing with charcoal, it is messy and inconvenient to light the charcoal. It is necessary to provide kindling and/or a flammable liquid and the trouble encountered in preparing the barbecue often detracts from the ultimate pleasure of the barbecue.

It is, therefore, the object of the present invention to provide a firelighter for barbecues and the like which is quick, clean and inexpensive, and which requires little effort on the part of the owner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric firelighter which incorporates a guard that efiectively prevents its user from electric shock.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide an electric firelighter having integral means for positively preventing its accidental contact with an inflammable surface at such time as it is not positioned upon the charcoal being ignited.

In the drawing forming a part of this application:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first form of firelighter device embodying the present invention showing it applied to a bed of charcoal;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of said device;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of said device;

Figure 4 is a vertically exploded perspective view showing a second form of firelighter device embodying the present invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing said second form of device being employed to ignite charcoal; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of said second form of device disposed in a non-operative position.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly Figures 1, 2 and 3 thereof, the first form of firelighter device embodying the present invention is generally designated 4. The firelighter consists of a cup-shaped head member 6, a handle extension member 8 and a handle 10. The device is also equipped with a cord 12 for attaching it to an electric power source. The head member 6 contains a porcelain, or other heat resistant material, member 14 through which is coiled Nichrome or other electrical resistance wire 16. The head member 6 has a raised portion 17 thereon for the purpose of attachment to the handle extension member 8. The whole assembly is held togther with two screws 18 and 20 passing through the members 6 and 14.

In use, it is only necessary to place the device 4 on a bed of charcoal 22, as is shown in Figure l. The current is then turned on, and in a very short time the charcoal is ignited.

Referring now to Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, there is shown a second form of firelighter device embodying the present invention. It will be apparent that this second form of firelighter is generally similar to the form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Thus, this second form includes a generally cup-shaped, metallic head member, generally designated 30, a handle extension member 32 and a handle 34. The device is also equipped with a cord 36 for attaching it to an electric power source. The head member 30 contains a cylindrical porcelain or other heat resistant material member 38 through which is coiled Nichrome or other electrical resistance heating wire 40. A flat disc 41 of insulating material such as asbestos is interposed between the underside of the porcelain member 38 and the bottom wall 42 of the head member 30. A radially extending slot 44 is formed in this insulating disc 41 to receive the leads 45 connecting cord 36 with the Nichrome heating wire 40. The head member 30 has a raised portion 46 thereon for the purpose of attachment to the handle extension member 32.

It should be particularly observed that the second form of firelighter device is provided with an inverted cupshaped guard, generally designated 50. This guard 50 is stamped from metal and is formed over its entire surface with a plurality of apertures 52. As shown in Figure 6, the guard 50 is telescopically received within the head member 30. The guard 50 is also provided with a plurality of raised ribs 54 defining a square when the guard is viewed in plan. These ribs 54 serve to rigidity the guard. The guard is secured to the head member 30 by means of a bolt 58 which is securable at its lower end to a nut 60 that abuts the underside of the bottom wall 42 of head member 30. The screw 58 is inserted through a spacer sleeve 62, the lower end of which abuts the upper surface of the porcelain member 38. The porcelain member 38 and the bottom wall of head member 30 are formed with coaxial bores 64, for receiving the screw 58.

Referring now to Figure 5, the second form of firelighter device is shown in an inverted position resting upon a bed of charcoals 70 to be ignited; it should be particularly noted that a stand 72 is stamped from the bottom wall 42 of the head member 30. This stand 72 is adapted to support the head member 30 above a supporting surface 74 when the firelighter device is not in use as shown in Figure 6. With this arrangement, heat from the firelighter is prevented from inflicting damage to the supporting surface 74.

Referring again to Figure 5 at such time as the firelighter device is in contact with the bed of charcoals 70, the user will be protected from electric shock by the apertured guard 50. If such guard were not employed, the heating wires 40 could come into contact with the charcoal 70. Inasmuch as charcoal may sometimes act as an electric current conducting means, it is desirable that such direct contact between the heating element and the charcoal be prevented.

Although the two forms of firelighter devices have been described for the purpose of igniting charcoal, they may be used for other purposes such as burning ofi paint, softening thermoplastic cements, drying paint and for the lighting of other fires, such as lighting the fire in a fireplace.

While there have been shown and described hereinabove what are presently considered to be two preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

This is a continuation-in-part of patent application Serial No. 524,893, filed by me July 28, 1955 and now abandoned.

I claim:

1. A firelighter for charcoal or the like, comprising: a round, cup-like, metallic head member having a central disk portion with relatively short upstanding side walls forming the cup; a thin hollow metallic member extending from said cup-like portion terminating in an insulated handle portion; electric conductors passing through said insulated handle portion and said hollow tubular portion to the cup-like member; a circular, flat heat resistant member substantially filling said cup-like member, said heat resistant member being formed with groove means; electrical resistance wires disposed in said groove means and connected to said conductors; an apertured metal guard affixed to said head member and covering the open end thereof so as to prevent contact of said resistance wires with said charcoal; and a stand extending from the bottom portion of said head member for supporting said head member when said firelighter is hot but not in contact with said charcoal.

2. A firelighter for charcoal or the like, comprising: a round, cup-like, metallic head member having a central disk portion with relatively short upstanding side walls forming the cup; a thin hollow metallic member extending from said cup-like portion terminating in an insulated handle portion; electric conductors passing through said insulated handle portion and said hollow tubular portion to the cup-like member; a circular, flat heat resistant member substantially filling said cup-like member, said heat resistant member being formed with groove means; electrical resistance wires disposed in said groove means and connected to said conductors; a flat disk of insulating material interposed between the underside of said heat resistant member and said head memher; an apertured metal guard afiixed to said head memher and covering the open end thereof so as to prevent contact of said resistance wires with said charcoal; and a stand extending from the bottom portion of said head member for supporting said head member when said firelighter is hot but not in contact with said charcoal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 904,467 Wheeler Nov. 17, 1908 1,614,661 Detwiler Jan. 18, 1927 1,959,524 Cohen May 22, 1934 2,062,701 Cohen Dec. 1, 1936 2,396,591 Melniczak Mar. 12, 1946 2,500,584 St. Pierre et al. Mar. 14, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 920,762 France Jan. 4, 1947 

